faying that the people had ao power over the no-bility of the realm ; and that his fon-ia-law, the king of Caftille, was powerful enough to pu-nifh any rebellion that might break out ; that he had no jnft caufe to imprifon him nor put him to death 5 and, befides, his brother was of a re-ligious order, and poflefled of great wealth, with-out thinking of the crown of Portugal. Thefe were the reafons why he efcaped death. All thefe are well known facts ; for I, the au-thor of this hiftory, was told them by the nobles of Portugal. It was certainly ftrange they fhould choofe a baftard for their king : but they found none nearer in blood to the crown ; for they declared, that the queen of Caftille, daugh-ter of the lady Leonora d'Acunha, being a baf-tard, fhould never poffefs the crown of Portugal, nor fhould any of her defcendants. The count de Foix was of a fimiliar opinion, as he told the knights when he gave them an enter-tainment on leaving his country for Portugal ; for he is perfectly well informed, though he re-fides at Orthès, of every thing that paffes in Castille or Portugal. When his knights departed, he faid,—c Gentlemen, you have,not any bufi-nefs to interfere in the difputes between Castille and Portugal -y for the queen of Castille, daugh-ter of don Ferdinand king of Portugal, has n% claim to that crown. This war is begun fool-iflily, and with much bitternefs : you may there-fore, a£ well as thofe who first stirred it up, heartily repent when it is too late/ They replied, * that having received earnest of pay from Sift